7 Essentials, 6 Unique Watercolor Cards (No Stamping Required) | Perfect Pairings with Jaycee

What if I told you that you could create stunning, professional-grade, statement watercolor cards using only seven crafty essentials? And even better—there is no stamping. If you’re feeling a bit skeptical, stick around. I think I might just surprise you with how much beauty we can create when we clear away the clutter and focus on the joy of the medium.

We're diving into the masculine card details in this blog, but feel free to take a look at the video over on Altenew's YouTube channel too! 

To achieve these looks, I stripped my stash down to the core essentials. You can find all of these at Altenew to build your own curated kit:

1. Artists’ Watercolor Foundation Brush Set

2. Artistry by Altenew Cold Pressed Watercolor Paper

3. Satin Masking Tape 

4. Printable Sentiments Digital Download

5. Lush Terra Watercolor Compact (The Star of the Show!) 

6. Instant Dimension Foam Tape

7. Folded Note Card Bases

We’re starting simple by using Satin Masking Tape at an angle to mask off the bottom of an A2 panel. Using a 3/4" Angled Foundation Brush, I created a light wash of Deep Sienna, then repeated the process with increasingly concentrated pigment. The result is four monochrome color blocks that feel incredibly modern and structured, a great vibe for any watercolor cards you make.

Who says you need a stencil for watercolor cards? I used the cardboard center of my masking tape roll to trace three overlapping circles. Using Soft Rose, I painted each circle in a different value—from a light, airy wash to a deep, saturated pink. It’s the perfect way to fill a panel with minimalist, interesting shapes.

This is probably the simplest of the watercolor cards in the series, but the most striking. I concentrated Violet Nightshade to an intense saturation at the top of the panel, then used clean water to drag that pigment down in horizontal strokes. It’s a beautiful way to practice gradients while letting the pigment do the work.

I love the airy feeling of Hydrangea Blue, and it's a great vibe and color palette you can use for watercolor cards again and again. Using the 3/4" Angled Brush, I created jagged peaks, starting with a dilute wash and getting progressively darker as I moved down the card. It creates a beautiful "mountain range" effect that feels peaceful and organic.

I wasn't sure if this would work, but I was so surprised by the result! By creating a pool of Sea Glass pigment at the top of the card and dragging it straight down with the flat edge of an Altenew Acrylic Block, I achieved these quick, free-form organic stripes. It’s a fun, experimental technique that creates instant "art gallery" vibes for your watercolor cards.

Finally, we’re using the #10 Round Brush and Emerald Cedar on the last of the watercolor cards to create one-stroke leaves around a circular pencil guide. By pressing the belly of the brush and lifting as you pull away, you get these perfect teardrop shapes. If you make a "boo-boo," you can always add some Violet Nightshade berries to finish the wreath! A simple, but stunning idea for watercolor cards.

To finish these watercolor cards off, I used Instant Dimension Foam Tape to ensure the panels lay perfectly flat—combating any warping from the water. For the Violet Nightshade card, I even ripped one edge to create a deckled edge. To me, that’s the perfect nuance to balance the clean lines of the card base.

Which of these six techniques for watercolor cards are you going to try first with your Lush Terra palette? Let me know in the comments!

Before you go and make those stunning watercolor cards, don't forget that Altenew is running a special on embellishments. Buy 1, and get the 2nd at 50% off an all things enamel dots, gem sparkles, and pearl dots! 

These could be wonderful additions to your watercolor cards if you'd ever like to add an extra sparkle to them. Shop HERE!